Auto alliance opposes Murkowski on EPA greenhouse gas regs

Auto lobbyists have lobbied for weeks against the resolution, but the Alliance had not officially stated its position. The group also opposed an earlier effort by Murkowski to block funding for the EPA rulemaking effort, and enviromental groups had urged them to weigh in against the resolution as well.

If Murkowski’s resolution was successful, “the historic agreement creating the One National Program for regulating vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions would collapse,” McCurdy wrote.

Separately, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) has introduced legislation to delay EPA from acting for two years, in order to give Congress more time to adopt carbon limits on its own in a comprehensive energy and climate bill. Murkowski has said she also supports Rockefeller’s measure.

A big difference is the legislation would only block EPA from regulating so-called stationary sources, like power plants and large industrial sites. Its backers say that the bill would not conflict with the tailpipe standards the automakers and the administration negotiated.